Journey to 30 Ballparks
I turned 30 this year and the top item on my bucket list is “Finish visiting all 30 ballparks while I’m 30”. So far I have visited 14 ballparks, and the schedule for 2023 is set up so perfectly that most of the weekend away games are ballparks I haven’t been to yet (is it fate?!). I started my journey in 2018, and my first away game was at Dodger Stadium. Let me first share that I am a LOUD & PROUD Houston Astros fan! Since it was my very first away game, I dressed neutral and just wore white. I still cheered for my team, and we did win that day…(YAY!). I got the dirtiest stares, but I kept cheering. Other than the stares, there wasn’t anything super memorable from the ballpark for me, not even the food which I’m big on. I’ll try again in 2023. Baseball friends, please show me the way and what I’m missing out on at Dodger Stadium. Next time I’ll be bleeding Astros orange though. Actually, my ballpark outfits/costumes have never been the same since. My next ballpark was at the Texas Rangers in 2019 (the old Globe Life) and I also went to the new Globe Life in 2022. Not to be biased, but Texas is great and there is nothing like that good ol’ southern hospitality. I highly recommend the 2-foot long hot dog. This Astros girl shared it with her Rangers friends and we still couldn’t finish it, but it was fun! The Astros-Rangers rivalry will never get old, and I plan to make the drive to Arlington as often as I can in the future.
The ballparks I’ve been to thus far are Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Guaranteed Rate Field, MINUTE MAID PARK (AKA my second home), Angel Stadium, Oakland Coliseum, T-Mobile Park, Globe Life Park, Citi Field, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, and Oracle Park. At Fenway, I saw the Yankees play the Red Sox. That game was the vibe I would want to relive again and again. I cheered for the Red Sox that day, and they won. It was a regular season game with all of the post season feels. The weather was amazing, they had food I’d never seen at any other ball park (lobster roll hot dogs- WHAT), and the fans were loud the whole game. Citi Field was also great. The Astros started the 1st inning at 4-0, my favorite player in the world (Yuli Gurriel) hit a home run, and the fans in that section were amused at my cheering, but they didn’t hate me for it. The Yankees Stadium had a cool museum I suppose… (but “Who’s Yor Daddy”- am I right? If you know, you know). Seattle is super memorable for me. I went over the Summer, and the Seattle fans were the nicest I’ve ever encountered. I walked the city in my Astros gear and people in the streets had jokes, but made sure to welcome me. I entered the ballpark and people complimented my rainbow jersey. Altuve hit a hit a leadoff homerun and I started the game yelling at the top of my lungs. I got to snap a selfie with my all-time favorite player (ya’ll know who La Piña is!). To top it off, I had dumplings at the ballpark! Amazing. I need to go back to grab the acai bowls on the upper concourse and to munch behind the visitor’s dugout and watch the 2022 World Champs do their thing (hopefully in 9 innings). But the most memorable ballpark experience of 2022 was witnessing Game 6 of the World Series at my second home, and watching the Houston Astros win it all. Unforgettable.
The way I feel about baseball and visiting ballparks is the hobby I wish for everyone to have. The desire to wait in line before gates open to get the bobble heads I need for my collection, being in a whole other state and high-fiving other Astros fans I’ve never met, making new friends- yes, even from the other team, learning new history and touring the beauty that is every ball park, it’s a feeling like no other. The most, pure fun that I look forward to year-round. Even in the off season, you can go tour ballparks!
This year I made so many memories and new friends and it’s something I want to do forever. To all my baseball lovers, baseball travelers, ballpark chasers, baseball besties, women who love sports, & Top Fan Rivalry- I hope to meet you all at your home ballparks and I hope to learn the beauty of your ballparks from you. And if you are ever in Houston, Texas, let me show ya’ll the best and the beauty that is Minute Maid Park (you will love that retractable roof in the Summer time heat). Follow my Journey to 30 Ballparks on Instagram @juiceboxjacky. I have 10 months to visit the remaining 16 ballparks. WISH ME LUCK!
Article submitted by Jacky Capistran